01/31/2017

Happy Birthday EVERYONE!!

(traditional tins from chinese new year cookies)

Today is Ren Ri or Yan-Yat (Birthday of Man or Every-man's Birthday) and everyone is said to grow a year older.

According to Chinese legend, the Goddess Nuwa created chickens on the first day, dogs on the second day, sheep on the third day, pigs on the forth day, cows on the fifth day, horses on the sixth and humans on the seventh day.

Today is the seventh day for Chinese New Year.

Traditionally on this day, families celebrate by tossing a big salad called YuSheng. It is very colorful with many different vegetables and strips of raw fish. The really fun part is everyone tosses the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks and calls out wishes to mark the start of a prosperous new year. The higher you toss, the merrier it will be.

Before the toss...

After the toss!

So today is your Birthday! Happy Birthday to you! Treat yourself to a little something special - a little present... a cupcake... a piece of cake... it is YOUR Birthday!

01/29/2017

Gong Xi Fa Cai

2017 – The Year of the Rooster!

The New Year has begun and will last until Feb 2, 2017.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, falls in the months of January or February, and each New Year is related to an animal sign according to a 12-year cycle. The Rooster is tenth in the Chinese zodiac.

Legend says that many many years ago Buddha asked all animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and he named a year after each one. He declared that people born in each animal's year would have some traits of that animal's personality.

2017 is a Fire Rooster Year. The Rooster is: Hardworking, strong-willed and confident. They are well organized and a good timekeeper. They enjoy being the center of attention and love flattery. Often outspoken, they hate criticism of themselves though they can be inclined to find fault with other people.

09/20/2016

The hubby had business in Paris, so of course I said OUI - YES when he invited me to go!

Whenever I am in Paris on Sunday I have to hit the Vanves flea market. Many of the vendors really take the time to set up their goods.

The prices were high. I only bought a few postcards (1 euro each) and a small book (2 euro). I have so many ladies and little girls in my collection but very few little boys.

I thought these with airplanes were different.

The little girls holding hands were so sweet and I always buy swings when I see them.

The cover to the book was torn off, but I take them apart anyway so I did not mind.

Tomorrow we take the train to Brussels (more meetings) so I will hit their Daily flea market. It is a messy one where you have to dig through boxes... but you can find treasures at cheap prices, so I actually prefer it.

09/06/2016

Hello blog... it's been a long time... too long. I have missed you. And all the wonderful friends I was in contact with. I introduced this blog in March of 2010... I was living in Brussels, Belgium. It is hard to believe, but we just passed our one-year anniversary of living back in the United States after eight years of living abroad (Belgium & Singapore).

Repatriation is harder that I thought. The simple Definition of repatriate is - to return (someone) to his or her own country. Who would have thought coming home would be so difficult? Even after one year I am still trying to make sense of my "new" old life. Trying to figure out what is next for me. I love the quote I shared above by Dianne Fago and Stampington & Company. I know I need more balance and structure, but it is not easy finding it.

Next month I am participating in an art/craft show where our local food market is held each Sunday. This is the first time the county is doing a craft/art market in the space. I will sell my cards and small creations. This (art/creating) is my "balance."

I also want to get back to consistent blog posting. This is both my "structure and balance." I was shocked when saw that my last post was in April. Where has the time gone?

As my husband reminds me all the time.... that my new life is not so bad. This week I am roaming the streets of Bangkok ... a little slice of the "old".

03/29/2016

Welcome to my blog! I love creating mixed media cards, art, and jewelry. This blog is a place for me to share my creations, my collections, and what inspires me (travel, art, photography). The hubby and I travel often and I love collecting and sharing unique finds from the countries we visit.